Born Abercwmboi, Aberdare. At age twelve began work in
Cwmpennar pit. He went to night school to study mining engineering and won a
scholarship to travel to the coalfields in Europe. In 1913 he obtained a BA in
the social sciences from University College, Cardiff. In 1918 he became an
agent of the South Wales Miners’ Federation for Dowlais and campaigned
strongly for better working conditions for the miners.

He became elected as a
member of the executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain in 1924
and later that year he became vice-president until 1933. In 1934 he became MP
for Merthyr standing as a member of the Labour Party. He was a committed
socialist with a very active and outspoken political life. He often opposed
the official party line and this led in 1970 to an attempt to remove him as MP
for Merthyr, but he stood as Independent Socialist instead and still won the
seat by more than 7000 votes.

FURTHER READING:

Griffiths, Robert S.O.Davies: a socialist faith (Llandysul,
1983)

All items listed in the further reading are
available for consultation in either the South Wales Miners’ Library or the
Library and Information Centre, University of Wales Swansea. Click here
to link to the library catalogue.